Boban To Make 2000 Metre Debut In The 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Trainer Chris Waller has revealed that talented miler Boban will get his first opportunity over 2000 metres in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 19.

Trainer Chris Waller is hopeful that Boban can stamp himself as a Cox Plate contender with a win in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Boban was the star of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, winning the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m), Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m), and according to Waller will have an opportunity to add to his Group 1 tally in the autumn.

The Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 8 and the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 are both on the agenda for Boban, but Waller told TVN that the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be the son of Bernardini’s major target.

“We are working towards the Queen Elizabeth; we want him relaxed to see if he is going to be a Cox Plate horse,” Waller said.

“He will be at the end of a preparation and it will be a good time to try him at 2000m rather than the Ranvet, which is much earlier.”

Waller said that Boban will also be included in the nominations for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and the leading Sydney trainer said that he has not ruled out a tilt at the $3 million race with the four-year-old.

“He is going to get a lot of weight in the Doncaster,” Waller said.

“It is still an option, it is worth a lot of money, and we are not just going to turn our back on it for the sake of running in the Queen Elizabeth.”

The 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is expected to draw all of the leading weight-for-age gallopers in Australia; with New Zealand superstar It’s A Dundeel ($4.50) currently a clear favourite from Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente ($7.50), Boban ($9), classy filly Guelph ($10), the consistent Happy Trails ($12) and The Queen’s horse Carlton House ($14).

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